{"id":445177,"date":"2026-08-27T14:48:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T14:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/445177\/"},"modified":"2026-08-27T14:48:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T14:48:15","slug":"nine-vie-for-seven-seats-on-the-ramona-community-planning-group","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/445177\/","title":{"rendered":"Nine vie for seven seats on the Ramona Community Planning Group"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nine candidates are in the running for seven open seats on the 15-member Ramona Community Planning Group.<\/p>\n

Registered voters in the Ramona Community Plan Area are asked to vote for seven candidates in the Nov. 3 General Election.<\/p>\n

The plan area consists of approximately 84,000 acres in an area east of the city of Poway and north of Lakeside, according to the county\u2019s Planning & Development Services department.<\/p>\n

Those who are elected serve four-year terms.<\/p>\n

Representatives of the unincorporated areas of the county have the opportunity to advise and assist County of San Diego officials on matters of planning and land use affecting the group\u2019s area, according to the county.<\/p>\n

Ramona Community Planning Group meetings are held monthly at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday, typically at the Ramona Community Library, 1275 Main St.<\/p>\n

Below are statements by the nine candidates that describe their qualifications.<\/p>\n

William \u201cBill\u201d Adelson<\/p>\n

Age: 70<\/p>\n

Residency: Ramona resident for 22 years<\/p>\n

Occupation: Architect and substitute teacher<\/p>\n

Adelson said he aims to be a Ramona Community Planning Group member because after 44 years of working in corporate America it\u2019s time for him to apply his skills in his local community.<\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially now that my daughter and son-in-law have moved here with our grandson,\u201d Adelson said.<\/p>\n

\"WilliamWilliam \u2018Bill\u2019 Adelson. (Courtesy of William \u2018Bill\u2019 Adelson)<\/p>\n

As an architect Adelson said he is familiar with real estate and the design\/build industry so he believes his professional experience aligns with the mission of the county\u2019s planning groups.<\/p>\n

Adelson said his experience has been almost completely in commercial building design and construction. He said he started in the field by working on high-rise office buildings and then on several suburban corporate headquarters projects.<\/p>\n

After moving to California in 2004, he said he developed a unique system for deploying solar energy systems on parking lot canopies. This system was widely adopted by California\u2019s K-12 school districts and he built these projects on more than 200 school campuses from Napa to Chula Vista.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy broad experience, both in California and nationwide, can add well-tested solutions to ongoing issues in Ramona\u2019s built environment,\u201d Adelson said.<\/p>\n

On a personal note, he said his wife, Erna P. Adelson, and his daughter, Erna L. Adelson, are well immersed in the Ramona equine community. Much of William Adelson\u2019s spare time involves tasks related to caring for and managing the three horses the family keeps in Ramona, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will often be seen picking up our grandson at the Ramona Community Montessori School,\u201d he said. \u201cI am also a certificated substitute teacher for Ramona schools.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sophia Browning<\/p>\n

Age: 35<\/p>\n

Residency: Ramona resident for four years<\/p>\n

Occupation: Attorney<\/p>\n

Browning said when she moved to San Diego County in 2022, she quickly fell in love with Ramona because the town reminded her of where she grew up and the community that shaped her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to be on the Ramona Community Planning Group because I am incredibly proud to live in Ramona and I believe it\u2019s essential that the county government understand that there\u2019s nowhere else like Ramona anywhere in the county,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"Sophia<\/p>\n

Courtesy Sophia Browning<\/p>\n

Sophia Browning. (Courtesy Sophia Browning)<\/p>\n

Browning said that although she grew up around horses and animals of all kinds in a quiet town, she attended Georgetown Law and practiced at major law firms in Washington, D.C. She has been immersed every day in federal and local government, law and policy, and politics, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI learned in that setting how important it is for a community to have a patient and persistent voice at the tables where policies are shaped,\u201d Browning said. \u201cEven now, working in the city of San Diego and providing pro bono legal services at the domestic violence clinic at the El Cajon courthouse, I see how the perspectives of communities in the rest of the county can differ dramatically from those downtown.\u201d<\/p>\n

Browning said she knows how important it is for those quiet towns, like her childhood hometown and Ramona, to have a strong voice in the conversations that shape county policies.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur perspectives, needs and contributions are unique and must not be overlooked,\u201d Browning said.<\/p>\n

She said her background, training and experience as an attorney working with business, regulatory, legal, policy and governmental issues every day makes her uniquely positioned to effectively bring Ramona\u2019s perspective before county government.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe entire point of government is to listen to the people it serves,\u201d Browning said. \u201cWhile I have several issues that I believe are key for Ramonans (fire prevention and road maintenance topping that list), the point of this role is to make sure county leaders know what you, the residents of Ramona, want and need from them. As a planning group member, I would constantly advocate for the interests of Ramonans.\u201d<\/p>\n

Browning said she lives in eastern Ramona with her partner, who was formerly in the military, her parents, their horses, dogs, donkey and a cow. During the weekends they like to hike a local trail or watch an IndyCar race.<\/p>\n

Scott Doig<\/p>\n

Age: 49<\/p>\n

Residency: Ramona resident for seven years<\/p>\n

Occupation: Electrical salesman<\/p>\n

Doig said he wants to be a member of the Ramona Community Planning Group because he cares about the community. He also said he wants to be a part of thoughtful growth for future generations to maintain the small-town country living people have come to enjoy while living in Ramona.<\/p>\n

Doig has worked for the same company, Consolidated Electrical Distributors, in San Diego for 23 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started out working in the pipe yard and have worked my way into the position of outside salesman,\u201d he said. \u201cI am very knowledgeable about all aspects of construction, including managing the interests of all parties and working towards solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Scott<\/p>\n

Courtesy Scott Doig<\/p>\n

Scott Doig. (Courtesy Scott Doig)<\/p>\n

During the past year and a half he said he has regularly attended the monthly Ramona Community Planning Group meetings.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy participating, I have learned how the group functions and believe that I can contribute positively to its functioning,\u201d he said. \u201cI will serve the community as a group member by listening to the interests of the community and ensuring that their voices are heard by the planning group.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doig said he and his wife are locals to San Diego County. He grew up in La Costa and his wife grew up in Solana Beach.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2019, we decided to move to Ramona because we desired the space, safety, values and culture of a small town,\u201d Doig said.<\/p>\n

The couple\u2019s two children attend Montessori Children\u2019s Elementary and the family is active with Ramona Soccer League where the children play soccer and his wife is a board member and a coach. They also regularly attend Mountain View Community Church. In their free time they enjoy going to the desert or the lake, or spend time with close friends and family.<\/p>\n

Lisa Marie Garcia<\/p>\n

Age: 54<\/p>\n

Residency: Ramona resident for about seven years<\/p>\n

Occupation: Claim specialist at Geico; previously an executive assistant for more than 30 years<\/p>\n

Garcia said when she was asked to run for the Ramona Community Planning Group she said yes, because she wanted to help her community.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m new to local politics, but I see that as a strength \u2013 I bring a fresh perspective without any baggage,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cI actually grew up in an even smaller town, Bowling Green, Va., so I understand small-town life and what it means to protect it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Lisa<\/p>\n

Courtesy Lisa Marie Garcia<\/p>\n

Lisa Marie Garcia. (Courtesy Lisa Marie Garcia)<\/p>\n

For more than 30 years, Garcia said she worked as an executive assistant, supporting leadership teams and handling detailed, high-stakes work behind the scenes. Earlier this year she said she became a claim specialist at Geico.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that background suits the planning group well \u2013 it\u2019s detail-oriented work that directly affects people\u2019s daily lives, without needing to be the person in the spotlight,\u201d Garcia said.<\/p>\n

Garcia said she would come to every meeting prepared, having read the materials in advance, and she will listen carefully to different viewpoints before forming an opinion.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy work has taught me to pay close attention to people\u2019s concerns and not brush past the details \u2013 I\u2019d bring the same care to serving Ramona,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Garcia said she is married to Rene Garcia. She has a 26-year-old son who lives in Virginia. Her stepchildren are ages 14 and 16 and live at home with the family along with two dogs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I\u2019m not at work or home, I\u2019m probably out on a Jeep trail ride,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Kristi Mansolf<\/p>\n

Residency: Ramona resident for over 35 years<\/p>\n

Occupation: Librarian; secretary for the Ramona Community Planning Group; chair of the RCPG Mt. Woodson (Parking Lot) ad hoc Committee<\/p>\n

Mansolf said she is seeking an eighth term on the Ramona Community Planning Group so that she can continue to work to maintain Ramona\u2019s rural character and unique sense of community. She said development projects can fit in with the town\u2019s rural community and not exceed infrastructure capacities if the planning group collectively works to see that they do.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been an honor and a privilege to serve the community on the Ramona Community Planning Group for over 20 years,\u201d Mansolf said.<\/p>\n

\"Kristi<\/p>\n

Courtesy Kristi Mansolf<\/p>\n

Kristi Mansolf. (Courtesy Kristi Mansolf)<\/p>\n

As secretary of the RCPG, Mansolf said she brings extensive knowledge to the group. She adds that she welcomes community input and answers all inquiries, drawing upon professionals\u2019 knowledge when necessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cRamona residents, with project proposals in their area, often give the planning group the best information on which to weigh the projects and for making recommendations to the county,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Over the years, Mansolf said she has attended numerous meetings on projects and policies that could impact Ramona to better understand how to lessen those impacts. Additionally, Mansolf said she has worked to enhance public safety and to bring a level of public transit back to Ramona after services were cut.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have insight into Ramona\u2019s history, unique characteristics and special infrastructure needs,\u201d Mansolf said. \u201cOur agricultural and equestrian elements are valuable to retaining our rural atmosphere while contributing to our economic base. Planning for future development should be done to retain our rural characteristics while adequately addressing the infrastructure needs of our town.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Ramona has some serious traffic issues, Mansolf said growth should be planned sensibly and not be permitted to exceed the capacity of Ramona\u2019s infrastructure.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do feel, at this time, that our roads are not adequate to serve our community if there is an evacuation as a result of a wildfire,\u201d she said. \u201cIf re-elected, I will continue to look at development projects for potential problems and possible, viable solutions at both a site specific and at a communitywide level. I will advocate for safer, less congested roads and having better, more effective, evacuation routes for the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

If re-elected, Mansolf said she will continue to vote to preserve and enhance Ramona\u2019s rural character.<\/p>\n

\u201cFuture development proposals should fit in with what is here already. And given the chance, I will continue to work to see that they do,\u201d Mansolf said. \u201cRamona is unique and I will advocate to keep it that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Robin<\/p>\n

Richard Cruz Retrato<\/p>\n

Robin Joy Maxson. (Richard Cruz Retrato)<\/p>\n

\"Dawn<\/p>\n

Courtesy of Dawn Perfect\/Lifetouch Inc.<\/p>\n

Dawn Perfect. (Courtesy of Dawn Perfect\/Lifetouch Inc.)<\/p>\n

\"Timothy<\/p>\n

Courtesy Timothy ‘Tim’ Roberts<\/p>\n

Timothy ‘Tim’ Roberts. (Courtesy Timothy ‘Tim’ Roberts)<\/p>\n

\"Lauren<\/p>\n

Sabrina Lynn Photography<\/p>\n

Lauren Welty. (Sabrina Lynn Photography)<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

Richard Cruz Retrato<\/p>\n

1 of 4<\/p>\n

Robin Joy Maxson. (Richard Cruz Retrato)<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

Robin Joy Maxson<\/p>\n

Residency: Ramona resident for 24 years<\/p>\n

Occupation: Chair and founder of the Association of Planning Groups-San Diego County, which represents the county\u2019s unincorporated area including Ramona<\/p>\n

Maxson said public service is a privilege and a trust and she is running for a seat on the Ramona Community Planning Group because she wants to continue to work on behalf of Ramona.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a current member and vice chair of the Ramona Community Planning Group I have been dedicated to ensuring that Ramona\u2019s safety issues and affordability concerns have been acknowledged and concrete action related to earmarked funding and planning for improvement of these issues has been taken,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Maxson said she has twice been voted on by her peers to chair the RCPG. She also currently chairs the RCPG\u2019s Ramona State Routes Subcommittee responsible for improving state Routes 67 and 78.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking with Caltrans, the county and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is an ongoing part of the work I do to serve Ramona,\u201d she said. \u201cI understand the role of the many jurisdictions that have oversight of Ramona and how we in Ramona can access programs and funding that benefit our community, which is vital to making the change we need to see in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maxson said Ramona\u2019s status as an \u201cunincorporated\u201d town means that the county Board of Supervisors is the community\u2019s first level of government. Ramona does not have a mayor or city council, she said.<\/p>\n

In order to elevate the town\u2019s needs, she said she founded the Association of Planning Groups that includes membership of all 18 community planning groups in San Diego County.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith this association we secured a seat on the SANDAG Board of Directors specifically representing the unincorporated area,\u201d Maxson said. \u201cAs the association\u2019s representative to this seat I am able to directly advocate for SR-67 wildfire evacuation improvements, highway funding, and public transportation.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany programs serviced through SANDAG are benefits enjoyed by the cities, paid for with our tax dollars, and woefully lacking in our own unincorporated Ramona,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

If re-elected, Maxson said she would continue to work with the community on goals to improve safety in wildfire evacuations and daily travel; increase youth activity opportunities such as by developing a skatepark; promote a business-friendly environment; and support Ramona\u2019s agriculturally-based operations.<\/p>\n

Maxson said her other goals include continuing to ensure Ramona\u2019s values and goals for its future are respected and followed when working with the multiple agencies that serve our town.<\/p>\n

Maxson said she and her husband, who have adult children and many grandchildren, have worked hard for their home in Ramona.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe care for our senior animals and take care of several gardens \u2013 sharing our bounty with others,\u201d she said. \u201cJust like you, we experience the joys and challenges of living in this wonderful country town.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawn Perfect<\/p>\n

Residency: Family has lived in Ramona since the early 1970s \u2013 five generations including Perfect\u2019s parents, children and grandchildren<\/p>\n

Occupation: School district governing trustee and nonprofit executive<\/p>\n

Perfect said she wants to continue to serve as a Ramona Community Planning Group member because she would like Ramona to remain a nice place to live, with roads, parks, schools and jobs sufficient to meet the needs of the residents.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been in this town a long time and love it here,\u201d Perfect said. \u201cI\u2019ve seen a lot of changes; some good, some bad. I have served on several committees for the planning group, with a focus on transportation and trails, parks and town center livability. These years have been filled with learning experiences about how things work, including the role of government (state and local), how legislation affects what gets built here, and strategies used by developers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perfect said Ramona is a nice place to live and work, and she would like it to stay that way. Private property rights need to be respected, she said. Development needs to be balanced, she said, adding that traffic needs to flow safely, every day and during emergencies.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll make sure Ramona has a voice,\u201d Perfect said. \u201cI\u2019m very easy to reach, and expect community members to guide the direction of the town. My email is public \u2013 dawnperfect@att.net. I want to hear from people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perfect said she raised her family in Ramona and has been highly active in the community for a long time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been involved in just about every sports league and service club in the community,\u201d she said. \u201cLiving and working in Ramona keeps my focus local, and makes me personally invested in Ramona being a great place to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Timothy \u201cTim\u201d Roberts<\/p>\n

Age: 61<\/p>\n

Residency: Ramona resident for 32 years<\/p>\n

Occupation: Retired after working for Hawthorne Cat for more than 25 years, ending his career as a general service manager for the Power Systems Division<\/p>\n

Roberts said his goal to be a Ramona Community Planning Group member stems from watching Ramona\u2019s population grow while little to nothing is being done for the infrastructure in the community, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter being evacuated from my home twice and seeing more and more housing going in I felt I needed to have my voice heard for the best interest of the community,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cI am not opposed to growth as long as it is handled properly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roberts said he has managed teams that have worked across the globe and feels he has a lot to offer in planning and logistics to help improve the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving commuted out of the valley for the past 30 years I feel I can bring a different perspective to the group that would at least help the group to consider different options and solutions for the best of the community infrastructure,\u201d Roberts said.<\/p>\n

He said he is \u201cfirst and foremost\u201d a family person and has been married for more than 26 years. Together they have a blended family of four children. They like to camp and ride off-road vehicles.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kids are grown and living very well on their own in different states and also here in San Diego,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have five grandchildren and enjoy riding touring motorcycles and have over 150,000 miles riding together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lauren Welty<\/p>\n

Age: 38<\/p>\n

Residency: Ramona resident for 12 years<\/p>\n

Occupation: Land use developer for a local company; chair of the Ramona Community Planning Group<\/p>\n

Welty said she wants to continue her four-year service on the Ramona Community Planning Group because she has learned that knowledge is invaluable and instrumental in exemplary foundational structure.<\/p>\n

\u201cParticipating in our local government is paramount to the sustainability of our town for future generations and something that I truly love and cherish being a part of,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Welty said her career revolves around the longevity of well-managed growth. With nearly a decade of land use project management knowledge, she said her greatest career accomplishments have resulted in equestrian facilities, multi-family residential projects, wineries and event venues \u2013 all local to the place we call home, Ramona. Prosperous new growth not only injects vigor into the town, but also improves roads, brings in tax revenue, and safely keeps residents within Ramona, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEncouraging those that share in the same vision and are willing to navigate the process through the county of San Diego, when done in a codified manner, will directly benefit our town,\u201d Welty said.<\/p>\n

If re-elected, Welty said continued contribution to the success of Ramona would take precedence \u2013 whether that be fostering viable stewardship, assisting with the rejuvenation of our common areas or helping to navigate the streamlining of new growth.<\/p>\n

In her spare time, Welty said she enjoys hanging out with her six kids and husband, going camping or to the river, watching football and trail running.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Nine candidates are in the running for seven open seats on the 15-member Ramona Community Planning Group. Registered…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":445178,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[20865,204,60817,176386,176387,74,76,75,4486],"class_list":["post-445177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-diego","tag-candidates","tag-election","tag-general-election","tag-ramona-community-planning-group","tag-rcpg","tag-san-diego","tag-san-diego-headlines","tag-san-diego-news","tag-vote"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=445177"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445177\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/445178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=445177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=445177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=445177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}